Machine for making tubs and the like



March 18, 1941. `A M WALSTROM 2,235,271

MACHINE FoR MAKING 'runs ANDTHE LIKE Filed sept. 29, 195.8 4 sheets-sheet 1 A27-ORNE? March 18, v1,941.v A M WALSTROM' 2,235,271

MACHINE FOR 4MAKING TUBS AND THE LIKE Filed Sept. 29, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 HXEL M WALsTfPo/V March 18, 1941. M WALSTRQM 2,235,271

.MACHINE FOR MAKING TUBS AND THE LIKE Filed Sept. 29, 192458 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 March 18, 1941. A. M. wALs-rRo'M MACHINE FOR MAKING TUBS AND -THE LIKE Filed sept. 29,` 195s 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 /A/ VENTO/P ,4x54 N WHL aww/V Patented Mar. 18, 1941 eAfrENr: ortica MAGHINE'FORMAKING rUesEAND Yrrnn ,LIKE Axel M. Walstromylvlinneapolis, Minn-,1. assignor to The CreameryPackageMf-g.Compann Chi-1 cago; Ill.,- a corporation of :Illinoisv:

Application ,september as, issafsenai,No.tzsazai .A

9 Claimsr (CI. 14T-#1)v i The. invention relates to machinery fffor,y the manufacture. of tubs :andl like containersof; Wooden stave construction,-;and more particularly to, a machine rforo-automatically producing` successive sets ofrstaves of precisely. similar aggregate 'Width for assembly; into tubsor similar containerspf,

accurate standard dimensions.

In the coopering of ibutter tubs --arld .,--5simi1ar` containers it is common practice to placea nume `ber of tapered Wooden staves e-dgejatofedge on a curved laying-out `board` havingA xedqstops at each end which are spaced apart a distance equal@ toV 'the exact. total; `Width offstavesgrequired to Y make a tub :of the .desired Astandard size=5 HoweA`- ever, as the.v stavesfare. oipvaryingl Widthsfit is.

diicult to; iin-togetherv a number: of stavesethat will exactlysequa-lathe space between-the yend.' stops on thelayingfout board,. and the operator` therefore spends considerable time tryingfyarious` a combinations ofv staves, selectedfrom a convenient;

supply of `miscellaneous; Widths* befo1' e` a suitable set of staves is found 5to,approximatelywllthe spaceon the. board.:

This practice gis obviously `slow andfresults, in;

- stave sets` of slightlyy'varyin'g total widthlwhichin turnserve to make tubs Lof slightlydifferentv diameters on, whichr hoops-.of xed Ldiametersyare' either f too tight oretoo loose, -fit being the-common practicer to machine drive all :hoops vto predeter-y mined positions -on the tubs. -r

It is the` principal object .of my-inVentiOnto provide automatic mechanicalrmeansfor flaying ou setsoistaves ofA exact andrunvaryinggtotal Widthi'to assure. their assembly :in-to tubs of unie,

' form size` and tightnessL Another object is to provide automatic mech-`v anismfor continuously lmeasuring a passing series of abutting-*staves --and cutting the last-stave in the series to the exact Width necessary tolproduce 1 a setlofpredetermined standard aggregate width' for A assembly. into a tubx.

A further` object is .to `provide automatic mechanism for separating fand lmovingwapartl from the othersa series of staveswhichl-havebeenrmeasff t ured andl cutto the: desired YaggregateWidth and. comprising: the requisitequantity for theasseme` bly offa tub.

Other vobjects an-d .advantages` WilLbe v apparent in. the. following .1detailed.description1 of a pre, ferred embodimenttof the. invention which `I have selected-for tillustration in.. the accompanying drawings.i ItWill loe understoomhowever, that varioust changes in form, construction and ar,. rangementmay. be made by those skilled yin the art Withoutdeparting .from thespiritgand scope.

of f the .finyention ,as -lexpressedrin the ,appended claims.

Referring 4to the drawings, Fig;1 represents ,a plan view -oi the. machine comprising the mechanisms for measuring and cutting oithe sets, of, staves. Fig-2 is a lfront viewinelevation ofthe mechanisms represented in Fig.:1., Fig, 3 isa cr oss-sectionalyiew'inV elevation taken on. the planesof theline .3e-3 iniFig. vl. Fig. 4 is a cross`` sectional viewinpart taken .on the planes of .line` 4-4 inr Fig.3. L Fig.l5 is ,a crossfsectional .view in partftakenron the planes of theline 4-.4 in t. Figi-:3 and ,showing in addition the mechanism providedsfor 1 engaging. the last ,stave rof a com- 1 plete set and-moving themalonga ytablefapart fromy fthe. following seresof staves. Fig.5 is represented-als!)- theyline-in Fig. 6e Fig. `6 isv a side elevationvviewlof the essential parts ,of the stave set,V separating mechanismfin their operating onnectionwith associated parts of theothen mechanisms; g.

Generally stated,th,e l operative arrangement of, the machine .as-l herein illustrated comprises a supply table upon which has been piled a supplyoff previously,jointed7A staves .of ..miscellaneous Widths, :andadaying-fout, board uponfwhich an operatori places -a `series of.- the pre-jointed` staves, inlateral abutting-relation .preparatory to their. being moved'l into. the measuringandcuttingmechanism., ,o The ,latter-mentioned movement of thestaves-is accomplished by aconveyor operating-.longitudinally of.. the laying-tout. board and. which engagesv the .staves arranged on` the `board andmoves them iorward .into engagement l with a revolving Idrum; ther drum having circumferen-4 tial `vstave bearing portions ofthe exact diameters of.- thesimilarly rlocatediinside diameters of a nishedtub. As the-staves passlover upon the. revolving they are ,engaged on their upper surfaces-by a pair v(nf-retaining Wheels Vwhich bear:

upon thevstaves-andfhold them inriirmlpositiony on theV drum: The drum andv thelretaining Wheels. areY fprovidedgwith t slots which t are ypositioned in registry once in `each .completerevolution of the, drum, xand through Vvvhicha .slitting sawV is yoper-` ated ,.tot cut through the lastv stave of the, number required ,to complete, a set, ,the drum and Wheels being stoppedfrom rotation during the operation of` thesawn, Thereafter a pairoofhook members are lowered into engagement With .the last stave completingthe, set ,and the latter, is moved forward on a receiving table pushing the other staves of these,t ahead of it and permitting an attendant to gather together theV staves ofthe completegsct preliminary to furtherA operations in the as'sem-v A shelf I4 is provided rearwardly of the board` I0 for the purpose of holding a supply of loose staves. Preferably also an extension -shelf I5 is provided at the outer end of the laying-out board.

I 0, which serves also to hold a supply Aof loose staves convenient for moving the staves 'forward to the laying-out board. The shelf |5"preferj ably is slightly above the laying-out board, so that the end edge of the shelf I5 serves as a limit gauge for a complete set of staves placed on the laying-out board.

The outer end of the laying-out board I0 is supported upon a standard I6 which also is provided With an extended bracket I1 which supports the rear 'shelf I4.

One end of the extension shelf I5 may be'supported upon the adjacent end of the laying-out board, while the other endof the shelf may be supported by any conventional leg structure (not shown). The inner ends of the laying-out board I0 and rear shelf I4 arey supported upon a cross bar I8 secured to the upper portions of a pair of upright frame members I9 and 20.

Positioned adjacent the end of the laying-out board |0 is a rotary drum 2| of conical outer contour and having its upper portion at a level slightly above the plane of the laying-out board. The drum 2| is constructed with its smaller end closed and provided with a hub portion 22 having free bearing on a stationary shaft 23 fixed at its respective ends in the frame kmembers |9 and 20.

The open larger end of the drum is supported upon a pair of idler rollers 24 and 25 freely mounted on a pair of stationary shafts 26 and 21 which function also as cross-connecting bars between the frame members I9 and 20.

The drum is provided on its outer periphery' with a pair of circumferential ribs 28 and 29, the diameters of which are the same as the internal diameters at similar locations in a tub of pre-l determined size to be assembled from the staves being laid out on the machine herein described.

The closed inner end of the drum 2| is provided with gear teeth 30 which are engaged by a driving pinion 3| iixed upon a short shaft 32 having suitable bearing in the frame member I 9 and provided at its youter end with a pulley 33 driven by a belt 34, the latterextending to a pulley 35 freely rotating on a shaft 36 having its bearings in the frame members I9 and 20. The pulley 35 is driven by clutch means hereinafter described. 'Ihe drum 2| is provided with a longitudinal slot 31 extending from a point adjacent to the closed smaller end of the drum to and through the larger outer end of the drum.

Mounted above the drum 2| is a pair of wheels 38 and 39 positioned oppositely over the circumferential ribs 28 and 29 formed on the drum. The wheels 38 and 39 are secured upon a shaft 40 having bearing support at its ends in a U shaped bracket 4I which is pivotally supported upon a stationary shaft 42 having fixed support in' upwardly extended portions of the frame members I9 and 20.

The outer ends of the bracket 4| carry coiled springs 43 and 44 which latter are respectively attached to the frame members I9 and 20 and normally tend to draw downward the bracket 4| and cause the wheels 38 and 39 to be'ar upon the drum ribs with resilient tension.

The shaft 40 also carries a gear 45 secured thereto and in driven mesh with the gear teeth 3|) provided on the smaller end of the drum 2|. The wheels 38 and 39 and the gear 45 are formed with such diameters as will cause them to make two complete revolutions to one revolution of the drum 2| The wheels 38 and 39 are also provided with slots 46 and 41 across their peripheral portionsso positioned as to be in registry with the slot 31 provided in the drum as the latter reaches topmost position in the revolution of the drum.

The slot 31 in the rotary drum and the slots 46 and 41 in the wheels when in registry provide passageway for the blade portion of a circular saw 48 mounted on a carriage 49 slidably supported on a pair of rails 50 and 5| outwardly secured upon the frame member 20 and inwardly secured upon a bracket collar 52 secured to the stationary shaft 23. The rails 50 and 5I are positioned in parallel relation to the topside of the drum 2|.

The peripheries of the circumferential ribs 28 and 29 of the drum 2| operate adjacent to the end of the laying-out board I0, and by means of belt conveyors, hereinafter described, the staves are moved along the laying-out board and into engagement with the revolving drum. The staves being in close lateral abutment move forward upon the ribs 28 and 29 and pass under the retaining wheels 38 and 39, being so held in close engagement to the drum. The latter is operated, by means hereinafter described, to make one complete revolution and stop with the slot 31 ln uppermost position in registry with the slots 46 and 41 in the retaining wheels. Thereupon, the saw 48 is passed longitudinallyV through the slots and cuts the stave lying between the drum and wheels, whereby the staves passed over the surfaces of the drum ribs in the one complete revolution of the drum are accurately measured to form a set of staves of the exact aggregate width necessary to preserve the standard diameter in the tub to be assembled therefrom.

The movement of the staves along the layingout board, and into engagement with the rotary drum and the retaining wheels, is accomplished by means of a pair of belt `conveyors 53 and 54 of which the upper runs lie on the upper surface of the laying-out board I0 and move longitudinally thereof, toward the drum with the staves lying on the belt-s, the belt operation occurring simultaneously with the rotation of the drum. 5

The belts 53 and 54 are supported adjacent the drum on a pair of idler pulleys 55 and 5S mounted beneath openings in the laying-out board I 0 and supported on brackets 51 secured to the under-support I8 for the laying-out board. At the outer ends of their runs the belts 53 and 54 are supported upon drive pulleys 58 and l59 carried by a shaft 6U having suitable bearings in brackets 6| and 62 and mounted on the outer supporting standard I8 for the laying-out board. The pulley 59 is slightly larger in diameter than the pulley 58 in order to give slightly more speed to the belt 54 which underlies the wider portions of the tapered staves,` and thereby retains the staves in vthe cross bar or shaftv 26.'fconnectingthe@frame members I9 and 281!- Further Adescribing the` e'operatingA means for the sawing mechanisnnfthe carriage .49,onfyvhich the circular sawlwissupported is'controlled :in

-its movements'by va bunitary'pair voffmonnecting:

rods 1| attached tothe carriagefandfextending, rearwardly, the rear ends being integral Wi-thfa' cross member 12 having pivotal'supportin-bapainA of spacedv bearingv blocks 13 and 1:14 carryinggya; pulley-shaft 15. Each of the blocks-13e'and-x14, is rigidly'secured .to thersupper ends nfzonefof; two pairs' of swinging bars16' and 11,'whichflatter are rigidlyv secured attl'ieirloweri endsiin' a similari: pairr-of bearing bl-ocksvl freely supported Y'on a: drive shaft 19.: Shaft 19 isoperatively. mounted to suitable bearings provided on the extendedv ends of they cross members: 88v and .8 xedin .the frame Ymembers I9 and 1,285 It will"bez/observed.v that in the planview shown in Figf-l theifswing-'fi ing bars-16 and 11. are represented to be;.in. interi-vv mediate verticali positiongwhile. inrFigg 3 the, bars as rep-resented V*by ftheione pairfiI'lj are showneto be in rearmost inclined posi-tion.V

The shaft 19 has .secured thereon azpulley *82? carrying a belt 83 1in. driving -.engagementrwi-th` another pulley 84 secured toxthefshaftz'l.; Se-i curedv to the latter shaft also is-na doublegroove pulley-85 supporting a pairof V beltsif'runnlng to apairofsingle groove pulleys 81 mounted onl tended rear-lend of the shaft 38:'.J Mountedzonthe:

shaft `38 .adj acent` to vthen-frame member;;28-.-is: r-a free `running pulley 9| adapted foreclutchirdrive.; as hereinafter describedf, and -.connectecl,bya belt 92wwith a pulley 83 mounted onthe,--'wormeshaftl Sli-in anothervconventionalwvorm` and-drive transf mission unit 85, and there-fthroughfliavingdrivfv ing connection Withfthe fgeary shaft 96fiofsthat unit, the --latter 'shaft 'having A-"suitablefbearing, support in the side portions of theffframefmember 28.

The shaft 83- has secured on it-'s'respectiveends outwardly of the frame member128 v apair of :discs 81 and 98 which carryl respectively crankpinsa98 and |88. Pivotally connected .toruthe crank`-pins are a pair of connectingzrods |8|="andw"|'82r each of which lhas opposite-pivotal. connection-withra crossy member |83 suitably secured Aizoz'ithecimid#I portions of therespective pairs of--swringingtbars 16 and11.

Rotation .t of. ,the adiscs: S1.y andiebausesithe swinging `inwardly of the bars VV18 `and 11,which.

supported :intheframe rmembers |9 'and 28, andprovided; intermediately with a pair of pins |81 engageablein alslotconventionally provided in the clutch `member .1| 84. I

Movementof` thefyoke |85 is'controlled by a shifting: ffbar 88l having 4pivotal `connection at onefend vwith the/lower swinging end of the yoke |85-.f` Ther-bar.` |88\extends Aforwardly and is pivotally connectedat its opposite end with anotherffyokefmember- |88 having intermediate pivotalf suppcrtfat i8 onrthe stationary bar |88. Y Intermediatelyofthe supporting bar |88 and the fshiftingfbar 188,*the yoke |89 is provided with a'pair ofl pins] engaged in the conventional-f'slot provided in` a clutch member ||2 splinedfon thefront endnf'the` shaft 38 and engageable with-a complementary clutch member provided on the adjacent side of the free running pulley i previously described as part of the driving means for therotation of the drum 2|.

The :yoke: |88 extends'upwardly of' its pivotal support' onfthe .bar llillf'and is pivotally connectedat its upper end with a reciprocating latch pin IIfSShaVingA-sliding bearing lsupport in the frame member I9. The latch pin ||3 is adapted to'rlce-moved into' and out of engagement with a pin'- hole=-=| Mhprovided inthe end portion 22 'of the 'drum'-2l`. The pin hole IM isrso positioned that when =the `pin I3 is in engagement therewith the slot 31 for the passage of the-saw is in uppermost (position in the rotation of the drum.

Movement of the shifting bar |88'is controlled alternatively to fdis'engage Athe pin ||3 from the rotatyfclrum'and.causeA the latter by engagement of the clutchmember |2 with pulley 35 to rotate one fu'11` revolution, thereupon re-engaging pin ||3 -with the drum to secure it in position with theslot -in registrywith the path of the circular savv,1"a1f1d.satthe` same time to engage the other clutchfmember |84 with pulley Y8| to cause the saw tontravelinwardly through the slot 31 to sever.: .the-stave positioned thereover and return to-outward position, whereupon both clutch membersmare rdisen'gaged and the mechanisms brought toI `a vcomplete stop.'

Thiscycle of; operation Vis initiated byv means of a foot pedal ||5 mounted on a shaft ||8 havingxsuitablefbearings in oor brackets ||1 vandalsofcarryinga llever ||8 having pivotal engagementkwithanother lever"||9 secured to a roche-shaftCI28'A having suitable `bearing support in floor* bracketsl I2 Il.'

Secured to the rock shaft |281is a pair of levers |22- extending lupward alongside the shifting bar |88fandadjacentto .a lpin |23 fixed in the shiftingfban; AA-coilxspring |24 securedat one end to theframe member I8 and at its other end to the shiftingxbarV |88.,y normally tends to shift the bar frontvvardly or to the right as appearing inFig-.r Anotherfzcoil spring |25 is attached at. one. end itop.;` a accross, bar` |26. .fixed upon the frame bars and 8|, and at the otherend to the upright lever |22, the spring normally tending to retract the lever |22 away from-the -pin |23. Upon depression of the pedal I I5, the upright lever |22 is moved into contact with the pin |23 and the shifting bar |08 is moved to cause withdrawal of the latch pin II3 from the closed end or head of the drum 2|, and at the same time to engage the clutch member I|2 and pulley 35, whereupon the drum 2| is rotated one complete revolution as previously described.v

Upon the start of the revolution of the drum 2|, while the pedal H5 is depressed, the pin ||3 is held withdrawn from the opening I I4 in the drum. Upon release of the pedal, the pin II3 contacts the end portion of the drum 2|, under tension of the spring |24 applied through the shifting bar |08 and yoke |09, in position to reenter the pin hole I I4 in the end of the drum and stop the movement of the latter upon completion of one revolution. Upon re-engagement of the pin I I3 in the pin hole provided in the head of the drum, the shifting bar |08 is permitted to move to the extreme frontward position under tension of the spring I 24 and causes enl` gagement of the other clutch member |04 vand pulley 9|, thereupon starting the revolution of the saw carriage controlling discs 91 and 98. These discs rotate for one complete revolution accomplishing the entry of the saw intoand through the slot provided in the drum and return tooutward position.

Upon completion of one revolution of the discs 91 and 98, a peripheral notch |21 provided in each of the discs is simultaneously engaged by one of a pair of upright bars |28 and |29, each of the latter having a bent end portion normally in engagement with the periphery of one of the discs. The upright bars |28 and |29 extend downwardly in pivotal engagement respectively with a pair of levers |30 and I 3| secured to the opposite end portions of the rock shaft |20 at substantially right angles to the shifting bar pin engaging levers |22.

Upon engagement of the notches |21 With the upper ends of the bars |28 and |29 the latter are forced downward and thereby cause the levers |22 to engage thepin |23 on the shiftingbar |08 and move the latter reversely against the tension of spring I 24 to disengage the clutch member |04 from pulley 9|, and stop the rotation of the discs 91 and 93. The upright bars |28 and |29 remain in engagement in the notches |21 and thereby hold the shifting lever |08 in the position in which both clutch members are disengaged and the operation of both the saw carriage and the revolving drum is stopped. It will be observed however, that the main drive shaft 19 is continued in operation, and the drive to the circular saw is continued to maintain the latter at cutting speed.

Upon depression again of the pedal II5,'the upright bars I 28 and |29 are drawn further downward, and by that movement are thrown out of engagement with the notches |21 in thediscs and clear of the periphery of the latter by means of the links |32 and |33, each pivotally connected at one end to one of the bars |28 and |29 and at the other end to the frame member 20, the links being in such relative angular position as to move the bars outwardly from the peripheries of the discs with the downward movement of the bars.

Upon completion of the revolution of the drum and the automatic reverse shifting Vof the shifting bar |08,.the upright bars |28 and I 29 are suddenly lifted, and by reason of the longitudinally slotted connections between the bars and the links, indicated at |34, the bars pass to the outer ends of the slots |34 provided in the link, and move out- Wardly and above the notches |21 in the discs, thus not preventing the start of the rotationof the discs 91 and 98. Upon coming to rest, the upper hooked ends of the upright bars ride upon the periphery of the discs above the notches |21 in position tobe re-engaged by the notches upon the completion of one revolution of the discs.

Upon re-engagement of the disc notches with the ends of the bars |28 and |29, the shifting bar |08 is .moved to neutral position as hereinbefore described, and the cycle of the measuring and sawing operations is completed and the driving mechanisms therefor brought to a stop.

The measured and sawed set of staves for vone complete'tub is moved oif'from the drum 2| and onto a receiving table |35 supported on a standard |36 and positioned oppositely from the laying-out board I0. This may be accomplished automatically by means of the mechanism shown in Figures 5 and 6, and which may be incorpor'ated with the other mechanisms hereinbefore described in the complete machine or omitted as may be desired or convenient in the installation of the fmachine. Representation of the drum 2| has been omitted from Fig. 6, for clarity of illustration.

The stave withdrawing mechanism herein disclosed comprises a pair of hooks |31 having their free 'pointed ends normally positioned labove and at the delivery side of theslot 31 in the rotating drum. The' hooks |31 are rigidly attached to a U shaped bracket |38 having pivotal support at its respective ends upon a pair ofv levers |39 and |40 secured upon a shaft I4| having suitable bearing support in brackets provided on the supporting standardr I 36.

The swinging portion of the U shaped bracket |38 carrying'y the hooks rests at one side upon a curved shoe |42 having pivotal support at its outward end in a suitable bracket |43 provided on the receiving table |35, and with its inner end pivotally supported by a pin I 44 iixed in the upper end of a vertically slidable bar |45 having a slot |46 within which are-positioned a pair of bolts |41 secured to the frame member 20 and serving to retain and guide the reciprocating bar |45. The lower end of the bar |45 is provided with a roller |48 having engagement with a cam I 49 provided on the hub of the disc 98. The lever |40 is provided with an angular extension |50 at the outer end of which is pivotally conn ected a, link bar I 5I extending downwardly in pivotal connection with a lever |52 having opposite pivotal support at |53 upon the frame member v20. The lever |40 ,is also provided with an oppositely extending angular portion |54 to which is attached one end of a coil spring |55 oppositelyiattached to the U shaped bracket I 38 and tending to retain the bracket in bearing contact upon the shoe |42.

Intermediately of the lower lever |52 is provided a bracket |56 to which is pivoted a link |51 having a' slot |58. in its upper end engaging the crank pin |00 on the disc 98.

Inoperation, the mechanism just described remains in the position disclosed in Figures 5 and 6, during the travel of the saw 48 inwardly through the slot 31 in the rotary drum, and until the sawing operation on the stave overlying the slot has been completed.r This. sawing operation is completed during one-half -revolutionfof Lthe disc. 98 in the. direction indicated,V in 'E1g.`6, ,andnduring which the crank pin |-hasmovedtfromithe lower to the upper extremity of theslot 4|58in;the

link-.bar 4IS'I-and has returned to .the lowerexs At this time also, the crank pin |001orcesidown vward the connecting-link ...|51 and operates through the-lever |52 link- -.|5|;and'.lever 440 to movethe hooks,-now engaged Withthe-laststave,

. outwardly and over :thereceiving itable 1135, thus propelling the'series. of staves along-thedatter ported adjacent the path table.

Upon comple-tion .of the -iull frevolution:V ofthe disc 98, .ap-spring l|59 attached rto the :lever-:|52 at one endand to. a `suitable bracket, provided on the table supporting standard-I-,Sfeftectsthelreturn of the hooks |31 VA-to ,normalvposition'` as shown in Fig. 5, and at the same time the cam M9 has lifted the sliding` bar M5andrthereby the curved shoe |112 which effects theliftingof the hooks above 'and free of the pathof the staves passing over the drum during the next `cycle of operation.

I claim as my invention:

l. Apparatus for .laterally -measuring :and kcutting a set of staves for assembly into.4 a container `of predetermined size comprising in combination,

a rotary device having peripheral contour equivalent to the inside lateral contoureof, saidcontainer, meansfor rotating said device in. inter-V mittent cycles of one revolution, meansfrfor, passing a laterally abuttingseries oirstaves insuccessive contact with said devicethrougha predetermined position in its peripheral. pathL of rotation, means for maintaining said staves in contact with said device while passingthroughsaid position, stave severing `meansnormally supof movementlofesaid staves and operable transversely ofrsaid path` of movement, and means operablebetweenlthe cycles of one revolution` of saidy deviceto mOVesaid stave severing means across .the` path of movement of said staves at said predetermined `position and to vsever the: stave -'then,.,.posi-tioned therein.

2. Apparatus of the class described comprising in combination, a rotary drum operable to measure the aggregate width of a series of staves passing successively in contact with the periphery of said drum, said drum having a longitudinal slot extending -through its peripheral wall, a pair of wheels operatively supported for outward bearing upon said staves in contact with said drum, said wheels having peripheral slots therein, driving means for said drum and said Wheels causing the slots in said wheels to register with the slot in said drum once in each revolution of said drum, means for stopping said drum and said wheels with said. slots positioned in register, a saw operatively supported for passage through said slots when so positioned in register to sever a stave held between said drum and said wheels, and means operable after the stoppage of said drum and wheels to move said saw through said slots.

3. Apparatus of the class described comprising in combination, a rotary drum operable to measure the aggregate width of a series of staves pass- AJ77ingsuccessively iny contact withthe periphery Aof .zsaid drum; said I.drum extendinglthrough/its peripheral wall,` a pair 'of having t, a longitudinal :slot

wheels operatively supported for outward lbearing upon saidfstaves in ,contact with saiddrum, said .wheels having peripheral slots thereinfdriving meansfor said drum andsaidzwheels causing the slots in said wheels to register with"the slottin s`aid'drum. oncein each revolution of said drum, means" for,y stopping ,saidf drum :and =said Awheels Withlsaidtslots positioned in regis-ter; a savr operatively supported for vpassage through :saidslots When tso positioned in register' Lto sever av stave held. ,between vsaidv drum and, said wheels, 'means ',operablejafterthe stoppage.v of 'said' drumand vizvheelslto move said. sawthrough said slots, and reciprocating. means `operable to `engagethe 'severed portion of said staveand removesaidpor- 'tion from ,said drum.

4.Apparatus of .theclass described comprising in combination, a rota-ry' drum having*y a'slot'ex# tending' longitudinally through "its p peripheral wall,` a pair of vwheels .operativelypositioned adjacenttheperiphery of :said drum and havingA pe- `tri'pheral slotstherein, a movablesupport for ,said

Wheels, saidsupport having resilientmeans jtendingrto move Ysaid wheels toward said drum, ydriving Ameans for said drum and Asaid 'wheels adapted to .cause theslots in said drum and'said `wheels to' be` in; register after one-revolutionof` said..dr1nn,"releasable meansi'or securing lsaid drumland said 'wheels in position with Vsaid slots in register, a sawv normally positioned 'outwardly Vof said Aslots when iii-register, operatingand-supportingv means 'for said saw koperable toA move said sawl longitudinally'throughsaid slots kand backrto normal' position', clutch x means controlling 1 the operation'l of' said drum and wheel driving 'means clutch means` controlling 'the operationmof lsaid 5 saw'moving means, Yand controlmeans manually operable to' releasel said securing means-1 and-to".

engage'said 4drum driving controlJ clutch `and au- -tomaticallyjoperable'fserially thereafter, to reengage said 'securing means after "one revolution of' said drum, to'fdisengage said/drum driving -`control clutch, to engage said saw moving'controlclutch; and to" disengage saidA latter clutchafter Vone 'cycle' of movement of said saw'through-said f slots and/return.

Apparatus of 'the class described comprising gin" combination, a" rotary drumI adapted for "for peripheral' contact-with a serieslof passingstavea saiddrinn having a' longitudinal slot its periplreral wall,means forsecuringlsaid staves'in contact with said drum at a predetermined position in the path of rotation of said drum, means for rotating said drum, a latch member operable to stop rotation of said drum and secure said drum against movement when said slot is in said predetermined position, a clutch controlling the operation of said drum rotating means, a lever having operative connection with said latch member and said clutch and operable alternately to release said latch member and effect driving engagement of said clutch and to cause disengagement of said clutch and re-engagement of said latch member with said drum after one revolution of said drum, cutting means operable through said slot to sever a stave secured in said predetermined position over said slot, and means operable after engagement of said latch member with said drum to move said cutting means through said slot.

6. Apparatus of the class described comprising in combination a rotatable drum having a longitudinal slot through its peripheral wall,

means operable stop rotation oisaid with said slot in a predetermined position, a saw,

crank disc, a shifting bar attached to said lever,

and means operatively connected to said shifting bar and engageable by said crank disc after one revolution to cause said shifting bar to disengage said clutch and stop rotation` o-f said crank disc.

7. Apparatus of the class described comprising in combi-nation, a rotatable drum having a longitudinal slot through its peripheral wall, means operable to stop rotation of sai-d drum with said slot in a predetermined position, a saw normally positioned outwardly of said slot when in said predetermined position, means for moving said saw inwardly throughl said slot and outwardly to normal position, a crank disc for actuating said saw moving means and operable through one revolution during the inward and outward movement of said saw, said crank disc having av peripheral notch, driving means for said crank disc, a clutch for controlling operation of said driving means, a lever operable to effect engagement of said clutch to start operation .of said `dr-iving means, a shifting bar attached to said lever, another lever engaged with said shifting bar, and a reciprocatory bar pivotally connected to said latter lever and extending into position forengagement by said notch upon completion -of one revolution of said crank disc whereby sai-dlatter lever, shifting bar and clutch 'lever may be actuated to disengage said clutch and stop operation of said saw moving means.

8. Apparatus of the class described comprising in combination, a rotatable drum adapted to support a series of staves passing in peripheral contact therewith and having a longitudinal slot in i-ts peripheral wall, means operable to stop rotation of said drum with said slot in a predetermined position, a saw normally supported outwardly of said slot when in said predetermined position, means for moving said saw inwardly through said slot to sever a stave positioned -thereover and outwardly to normal position, a

crank disc for actuating said saw moving means operable through one-half revolution during the inward-movement of said saw and through the other half revolution during the outward movement of said saw, a stave engaging device normally positioned in spaced relation to said drum adjacent said slot, and means connected with said crank disc and loperable during the latter half revolution thereof eilective to move said device into engagement with a severed portion of the stave positioned over said slot and move said stave portion laterally away from said 9. Apparatus of the class described comprising in combination, a rot-atabledrum adapted to support a series of staves passing in peripheral contact therewith and having a longitudinal slot its peripheral wall, means operable to stop rotation of said with said slot in a predetermined position, a saw normally supported curtwardly of said slot when in said predetermined position, means for moving said saw inwardly through said slot to sever a stave positioned thereover and outwardly to normal position, a crank disc for actuating said saw moving means operable through one-half revolution during the inward movement of said saw and through the other half revolution during the outward movement of said saw, a stave engaging device normally positioned in spaced relation to said drum adjacent said slot, a shoe normally supporting said device in said spaced relation to said drum and operable to cause said device to engage a severed portion of the stave positioned over said slot,- a cam mounted on said crank disc, a bar havin-g pivotal connection with said shoe and having operative engagement Withsaid cam, said cam and bar being effective to maintain said spaced relation between said device and said drum during the initial half revolution of said crank disc and to cause said device to engage said severed stave portion during the latter hal-1' revolut-ion of said crank disc, lever means pivotallly connected .to said device and operable to move said device and said engaged stave portion laterally away from said drum, a connecting bar pivotally attached to said lever means, and a crank .on said crank disc, said connecting bar and said crank pin being inter-engaged for free relative movement during the initial half revolution of said crank disc and to cause said connecting bar to operate said lever means during the latter half revoiution of said crank disc.

AXEL M. WALSTROM. 

